YOUTH footballers playing a memorial match to remember their talented young teammate were watched by more than 400 people.

The large crowd turned out to watch Drakes Broughton Rangers Football Club Under- 16s playing without the young man they had come to honour: Scott Holden.

The game at Pershore Town Football Club in King George’s Way was played yesterday despite bad weather threatening to scupper the fixture.

The former Pershore High School Pupil, who played in the number 12 shirt, was found dead on Christmas Eve last year in his bedroom at home in Newlands.

Team manager Steve Goode guided his young charges to an appropriate and resounding 5-1 victory against a mixed league XI squad. In the programme Mr Goode thanked “all the lads for being extremely brave” at what has been a tough time.

Scott’s sister Kate and his father Nick were both in the stands with family to cheer on the players and said the support of the community had been “fantastic”.

Clive Corbett, Pershore High School headteacher, said he was not surprised by the game’s large attendence, saying the whole affair had brought Scott’s friends closer together.

“A lot of these lads who are only 15 or 16 have learned how to be there for each other,” he said.

“Many of them have played together and come up together and they have pulled together.

“And it’s not just been at our school. There are plenty of lads here from Nunnery Wood High School in Worcester and Christopher Whitehead’s (Language College, Worcester).”

Ian Wilcox, club secretary, who refereed the match’s first half, said 30 people had helped clear the snow from the pitch that morning to make sure the game went ahead.

“We’ve had a lot of support from people, other teams, from the league, from Pershore Town FC and elsewhere.

“And the Liverpool supporters club have got Scott’s family a signed Liverpool football shirt because he was such a huge fan of the team.”

He also thanked the day’s opposition made up of players from DBRFC’s usual league opponents at Inkberrow, Crowle and Fladbury, managed by Pete Dickenson.

“Usually these sides would kick lumps out of each other, but today it’s been all good sport,” he said.

The club has since retired the U16s’ number 12 shirt out of respect. Match proceeds went to the Midlands Air Ambulance.